County board talks about several financial issues

Fayette County’s ongoing issues with its finances were discussed for a couple of reasons at Tuesday’s county board meeting.
During a finance committee report, board Chairman Steve Knebel said the county continues to struggle with the challenge of meeting payroll without dipping into funds generated through the sale of the county’s coal rights.
County Treasurer Rose Hoover told the board that the county did not have to take monies from the capital improvement fund for payroll at the end of July.
That’s because the county had received some income and sales tax funds from the state.
But, she said, “Right now, we would have to transfer (from the capital improvement fund).”
Hoover said the county is paying employees this week, and she’s hoping that the state comes through with some more of the tax monies owed to the county.
Knebel then said the county board will be looking at spending some of its capital improvement funds for another reason in the near future.
“We are going to look at some maintenance work … while we have some money,” he said.
“We’re going to look at the necessities to the keep the county operating efficiently.
“If you keep putting things off, you have to start over, and we don’t have the money to start over,” Knebel said.
“This building is one (thing) – it’s falling apart. We need to keep it up,” he said.
He emphasized that the county board will keep a close eye on spending as it makes necessary improvements.
“We’re going to look at items that are necessities to keep the county operating and functioning,” Knebel said.
Board member Glen “Whitey” Daniels, a member of the board’s building and grounds committee, reported that the committee began discussing needed improvements at its last meeting.
Knebel again told department heads that the board will need their help in dealing with financial issues.
“Be very cautious with your budget situation,” he said.
A little earlier in the meeting, one of the department heads noted the need for some work on wiring in the courthouse.
Fayette County State’s Attorney Stephen Friedel said that the courthouse’s Internet service was knocked out, possibly due to a lightning strike.
“It’s fixed, but I think the board needs to look at wiring,” Friedel said.
The board did vote to proceed with one improvement at the county jail.
Knebel said Sheriff Aaron Lay is asking that the county allow for the creation of a padded cell in the jail.
Knebel said, “The cell they have, people can injure themselves … and they have.
“This is happening quite frequently,” he said.
Just recently, Knebel said, a jail inmate injured himself and had to be airlifted to a St. Louis hospital for treatment.
The helicopter transfer alone, Knebel said, cost the county $33,000.
“This is not just something extra that (the sheriff’s office) is wanting,” Knebel said.
“It’s about the county’s liability, medical costs and the safety of prisoner’s,” he said.
He told the board that it will be asked to approve the jail renovation next month, explaining that the county will use capital improvement funds to pay for the work, estimated to cost about $20,000.
Also at the meeting, the board voted to table action on dental and vision coverage for county employees, after discussing whether the county is required to provide that coverage as part of its health insurance coverage.
Board member Dean Bernhardt, chairman of the board’s insurance and personnel committee, said the board has received quotes for dental and vision coverage for the year beginning on Oct. 1.
The cost of dental coverage would remain the same, $25.33 per month per employee, and vision coverage would be increasing by 4 percent, from $29.42 to $30.60 per month per employee.
Bernhardt said the board may want to consider not paying dental and vision coverage for employees, if that’s even a possibility.
“Is dental and vision included in health (insurance coverage)? I don’t know,” Bernhardt said.
He said there is no specific wording on dental and vision coverage in contracts with unions representing county employees.
But, Bernhardt said, the board would need to determine whether dental and vision coverage is considered to be part of the health insurance package.
The board agreed to have the insurance and personnel committee get an answer to that question in time for the September board meeting.
The option would be to make the coverage available to employees, with them paying the premiums.
Also at the meeting:
• The board approved the re-appointment of Sharon Tedrick Jorandby to the Diveley Levee and Drainage District Board for three years. Her term expires on the first Tuesday in September 2015.
• The board approved the appointment of John Lotz to the South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission. Lotz fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Max Watson.
• The board approved the appointment of board member Jeff Beckman to the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority.
• The board approved the low bid of $196,608 from Depew and Owen Builders of Centralia for the replacement of the Altamont Road bridge.
It also approved the low bid of $167,058 from Depew and Owen Builders for the replacement of a bridge a mile and a half south of St. Paul in Wilberton Township.
• The board approved Illinois Department of Transportation audits on the receipt and disbursement of Motor Fuel Tax funds in 2011.